Aug 19 Home Fixes For Fatigue

Lucy Wyndham, from Caregiver Connection joins us as a guest contributor and takes a deep look into fatigue and simple at home fixes.

Do you always feel tired and view normal tasks as unsurmountable obstacles? On waking up do you feel drained and unable to complete your daily activities?

If so you may be suffering from fatigue, which is a common problem which affects many people nowadays. Today's lifestyle, nutritional choices and overall stressful environment are all factors which contribute to increasing fatigue levels.

Feeling tired all the time can be caused by various medical and lifestyle reasons;

Medical Issues

Fatigue can be caused by thyroid dysfunction and lack of essential nutrients, such as low Vitamin D and Iron levels. Before looking into your lifestyle as the cause, consider that fatigue is a symptom of many illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, anemia and sleep apnea, to name a few. So if you are feeling unusually tired talk with your GP about arranging a blood test which may help discover an underlying medical issue if there is one there.

Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle also plays a very large role in energy levels. An honest look at your life may help you pinpoint the causes of fatigue and help you fight them efficiently. Some factors that would impact your levels of energy are:

Lack of sleep

Excessive stress

Nutrition

Medication (antihistamines, cough medication)

Excess or complete lack of physical activity

Jet lag

Use of alcohol or drugs

How to fight fatigue

There are many ways to fight fatigue effectively, with some of these having the added benefit of slowing down the aging process too. Unexplained tiredness can be attributed to lifestyle factors such as stress, not enough sleep and poor diet. Use these tips to help you restore your energy levels and live your days to the fullest.

Exercise More

Doing more exercise can combat fatigue as it boosts your energy levels, along with increasing overall life quality as it improves the efficiency of your heart, lungs and muscles. Yoga, in particular, has been shown to be beneficial in lessening tiredness symptoms along with effectively treating chronic fatigue symptoms relating to depression and anxiety.

Dink plenty of water

Many of us are dehydrated without even realising it, and dehydration drains energy and impairs physical performance along with decreasing alertness and concentration. Drinking 8 large glasses of water a day will help with avoiding dehydration. When you're drinking enough water your urine should be a pale yellow or straw coloured. Darker urine is a sign that you need to get drinking more water.

Establish a regular sleep routine

Sleep problems affect millions of people worldwide with many people not getting the sleep they need to stay alert through the day. Furthermore, aside from causing fatigue, lack of sleep can lead to serious health issues. Establishing a regular sleep routine is important to allow your body to adjust to a regular internal clock, your circadian rhythm.

Change your diet

Food tolerances such as gluten or dairy can leave you feeling tired and drained, verify whether there are any foods you should avoid for medical reasons before deciding to cut out a food group. In any case, aim to reduce processed foods, sugary foods, alcohol and caffeine.

Don't skip breakfast! It's a fundamental meal that gets your day off to a good start - a combination of protein and carbohydrates, such as a whole grain bagel with cheese, is an excellent choice. Also increase your intake of fish, as it is rich in omega-3 oils this will help with boosting alertness.

Contacting your doctor before making substantial lifestyle changes is recommended.

Apply these changes to see if they assist in fighting your fatigue. However if you are still feeling sluggish even after making these changes, more in-depth medical exams may be in order.

Claire is our Inbound & Content Manager here at Thriva. Hailing from Cork, Ireland, she is an avid hockey player who is always seeking that balance between being at the top of her fitness game and living in London. Powered by having the gift of the gab (after kissing the Blarney Stone a few times) she is on a mission to prove that you can be healthy & fit and still have the lifestyle you want.

Claire is our Inbound & Content Manager here at Thriva. Hailing from Cork, Ireland, she is an avid hockey player who is always seeking that balance between being at the top of her fitness game and living in London. Powered by having the gift of the gab (after kissing the Blarney Stone a few times) she is on a mission to prove that you can be healthy & fit and still have the lifestyle you want.